US says shot down Iran drones as war reaches 100th day
The United States shot down two Iranian drones in the Strait of Hormuz on June 6, escalating tensions as the war reached its 100th day, while Pakistan’s interior minister delivered a message from its military chief to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei. Iran fired missiles at US allies Bahrain and Kuwait, and negotiations remain stalled, with Iran demanding the release of $24 billion in frozen assets while the US considers using those funds for Gulf ally reconstruction efforts.
The United States destroyed two Iranian drones threatening international maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz on June 6, marking the latest escalation as the conflict between Iran and the US entered its 100th day. Hours earlier, US Central Command had struck four other Iranian drones and coastal surveillance radar sites. Iran retaliated by firing missiles at US allies Bahrain and Kuwait, drawing condemnation from Gulf monarchies and complicating ceasefire efforts. Pakistan’s interior minister, Mohsin Naqvi, arrived in Tehran on June 6 to deliver a “special letter” from Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei. The message also included input from Pakistan’s prime minister regarding the current situation. Pakistan’s military has played a key role in mediating indirect talks between Iran and the US, following a single round of direct negotiations held in Islamabad. Iran’s foreign ministry condemned the US strikes as “flagrant” violations of sovereignty, while military adviser Mohsen Rezaei told CNN that negotiations with the US are at a deadlock. Rezaei urged US President Donald Trump to break the impasse and called for the release of $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets. However, the US Treasury indicated it may use those funds to compensate Gulf allies for damage caused by Iranian strikes. Meanwhile, Lebanon’s army chief, Rodolphe Haykal, traveled to Pakistan for talks aimed at ending the conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, which has drawn Lebanon into the war. On June 6, an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon killed three soldiers, two women, and wounded 22 others, while Israel’s military reported the deaths of two of its soldiers. A ceasefire announced in April failed to halt fighting in Lebanon, and a new conditional truce deal remains under discussion. The conflict has intensified global market pressures and political challenges for Trump ahead of midterm elections. Iran insists the fighting in Lebanon and the Gulf are linked, complicating efforts to reach a lasting settlement.
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